GMOs – Feed more or hurt more? You decide!

Did you catch the Dr. Oz program on GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)? Have you formed an opinion on all this biotechnology, especially where your food is concerned? If splicing the DNA of one species (like tomatoes) and mixing it with the DNA of another (a deep cold water fish) to make a “better” tomato makes you a little uncomfortable, keep reading!

Genetically modified food is a hot topic among foodie purists and anyone interested in protecting their health. If you’re unfamiliar with GMOs, your best bet is to spend some time in the website of the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), the “most comprehensive source of GMO health risk information on the web.” In particular, for more in-depth research, you’ll want to read their publication, The State-of-the-Science on the Health Risks of GM Foods.

There’s so much to learn about this Pandora’s box that’s been unleashed in our food supply (or Frankenfood as GMO opponents call it) and sadly, there’s no turning back. The damage to farming practices, our soils, and our very lives is frightening.

Despite all the social media coverage, so many people are still clueless about what’s happening to their food.

Are you really comfortable eating a food that’s been engineered to split the gut of insects open when the bugs start to eat the plant? If it kills the gut of an insect, what does it do to YOURS? This whole subject can get very fuzzy as Dr. Oz pointed out – we do after all, put pig veins in humans to save cardiac patients and no one complains about that. But how much tampering with nature is too much?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has labeled GMOs as “generally recognized as safe” or GRAS, yet they don’t even require any safety testing on GMO crops.

Do you trust an organization that receives half of it’s funding from the companies it’s evaluating? The scientist for the biotech industry, who spoke on Dr. Oz, spoke of the credibility of university research. Hmmm, they get millions of dollars from big pharma and big pfood and they’re supposed to be unbiased or neutral in their research?

Case in point, CalTech University just received a $10 million grant from Dow Chemical. Do you really think the researchers at CalTech are going to say the agricultural chemicals Dow makes are a hazard to human health? I think not.

“Better living through chemistry” was the mantra I grew up on and look at the consequences of our health today!

Another big argument the biotech industry uses to justify their so called GM agricultural “progress” is that it can feed more people and it’s good for the farmers. If you believe that, you should read this study comparing organic farming to conventional – organic wins, hands-down. You might also want to ask yourself why GM crops are banned in Europe and why GM cotton farmers in India are committing suicide at a rate of one every 30 minutes. Tragically, following government pressure, they swallowed the biotech Kool-Aid. Does anyone care?

An MSNBC Poll revealed that 96% of Americans favor labeling of GM foods. So why don’t we have it? Europe does. I’m sure you can figure that one out. If not, we can spell it for you S-P-E-C-I-A-L – I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T!

The top five GMO foods are soy, cotton seed oil, canola oil, corn oil and sugar beets, but let’s not forget the rbGH (bovine growth hormones) in our milk which is contributing to the breast cancer epidemic we have today. Children face the highest risks from eating GM foods. From the IRT website:

Young, fast-developing bodies are influenced most

Children are more susceptible to allergies

Children are more susceptible to problems with milk

Children are more susceptible to nutritional problems

Children are in danger from antibiotic resistant diseases

If you still aren’t sure about eating GM ingredients, here are 10 Reasons to Avoid GM Foods. But don’t take my word for it. Do your homework! If you are opposed to GM ingredients in your food without your knowledge, vote with your wallet.

Support the companies who honestly label their food like Annie’s, Earth’s Best, Arrowhead Mills, Beanitos, and more.

Tell the companies who use GM ingredients like Kraft, Hershey, Enfamil (yeah, baby formula!), Nature Valley, Campbell’s, Frito Lay, (and a sordid list of others) you don’t want GMOs in your food. Keep a copy of the Non-GMO Food Guide with you and be a smart shopper.

Better yet, grow and prepare your own food. Your life may depend on it!

About Mary Bloomer

I'm a wife, mother, grandmother and natural health advocate. After a number of close family members got cancer, I left the corporate world to pursue my passion for health and wellness. I'd love to hear the story of your journey to better health! Follow Mary Bloomer on Google+!

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